NSW closer to second international airport

NSW is a step closer to a second international airport as construction begins on an $850,000 upgrade to Newcastle Airport.

The funding from the NSW government into one of the state's fastest growing airports will add security, passport and border force facilities, with construction set to be complete by late 2017.

"The estimated population serviced by the airport is 1.2 million people, which could open a major new market to carriers to offer local convenience for people travelling from north of Sydney to overseas destinations," NSW Infrastructure Minister Andrew Constance said in a statement on Monday.